“When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.”
When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him - the Sanhedrin's response is uncontrolled violence: 'furious and gnashed their teeth' (dieprionto tais odousin, cut to the heart, gnashing their teeth). Luke uses the same verb he used earlier (Acts 7:39), suggesting a cyclical pattern: prophetic accusation produces rage, and rage produces persecution. The Sanhedrin becomes the very people Stephen has described—resisting the Spirit with violence. Their fury is the proof of his accusation.
Church Fathers on Acts 7:54
When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. See, once more, the wrong-doers in trouble. Just as the Jews are perplexed, saying, What are we to do with these men? so these also are cut to the heart. Acts 4:16 And yet it was he that had good right to be incensed, who, having done no wrong, was treated like a criminal, and was spitefully calumniated. But the calumniators had the worst of it in the end. So true is that…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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